There are some things Brutus can't help me with. Changing the belt on a vacuum sweeper is one of them. But, try telling him that.

October 23, 2013 – Wednesday

27 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

It’s actually calm and clear this morning. I went to the woodshed and for the first time in several days, actually saw the stars. The wind wasn’t blowing either. I don’t mind winter weather, but it’s the in between stuff that drives me into the house. There’s no snow on the ground in which to play, no ice on the lake for fishing, and the snow that falls is really nothing more than white rain. Stand out in it very long and one finds himself thoroughly soaked.

With all that being said, I was inside most the morning; a goodly portion of that on the phone to the substitute teacher agency that handles those types of things for all the school districts in the UP. I’ve never seen such red tape.

First, I had to attend a three-hour class last year instructing me how to teach. I found it ironic that after forty years in education, everything I ever wanted to know could be learned in a few short hours. Then there was a ton of paperwork, and finally, I had to have a private agency take my fingerprints. Only after jumping through multiple hoops might one be considered eligible to substitute teach.

I’m not sure I really want to, but there are a few things around the house that need replacing (and a few toys) that are outside our budget. We could survive indefinitely without me subbing and most of the above are within our reach once the other half of my retirement begins next June, but I’m eager to get the windows in the living room replaced this next summer and I’m not going to borrow the money to have it done. Paying for them will be done the old fashioned way, in cash.

I want to build the shop in the barn, construct another storage building on the property, put a lean-to onto the barn, purchase a cross-country tadpole trike, and eventually, build a bedroom/den onto the first floor. I figure if I can teach just two days a week this winter, many of those things will be possible. If not, there’s always next year. That’s the advantage of being retired, there's always time; if not this year, then next.

I spent Tuesday afternoon outside dodging snowflakes. I finally got the trapping paraphernalia down from the rafters of the barn. It appears I’ll have to order a few more things before I can really get serious, so my goal is to begin setting coyote traps this weekend.

That's a coon trap with a golf ball sitting on top.

I did take the time to set out two raccoon traps. Called Coon Cuffs, the traps are really spring-loaded pipes that close on the animal’s paw when he reaches into one to grab the bait. Luke taught me how to eliminate the squirrels or mice stealing the bait (cat food) by simply placing a golf ball on the top of the pipe. It meets two purposes; to keep other critters out and to serve as a curiosity attractor for the raccoons. That’s Luke’s a smart boy. It all works for me… now if it will work for the raccoons.

Brutus managed to stick his nose on the electric deer fence yesterday. I was in the house when I suddenly heard the worst crying and whining and witnessed a white blob streaking across the back yard. I’d left his ball on the park bench by the green house and though he knows he’s not to enter the garden compound unless I’m there, Brutus thought he’d sneak in and grab the ball while I wasn’t around. What he didn’t know was that I’d turned the fence on.

It took a while to pry the crying puppy from his doghouse, but in the end, I made over him, assured the inconsolable canine that he’d live, and gave him his favorite treat. I’m convinced that in a former life, Brutus was a long-haired fifi lap dog that probably belonged to an overly-perfumed old blue-haired lady and had a ribbon pinned between his ears.

Making sandwiches with peanut butter in which to put Brutus's pills. We make them up a week ahead to save time. Here I am using stale weenie buns, something that is NOT his favorite. He prefers 9 grain bread. Yeah, I about got sick on that one too. 

Sargie had to close yesterday and didn’t arrive home until late in the evening. Thankfully, she works early today and should be able to enjoy a full evening at home tonight.

Waltham Butternut squash from this past summer's garden. I enjoyed one for supper last night along with some of Sargie's beef stew. Perfect!

I’m not sure what I’ll do today. Assuming it stays dry, I’m going to hang a load of laundry on the line once the sun peaks over the horizon. There’s a pile of wood that has to be worked up and I need to check my trap line… all two of them.

But that’s how my life goes. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…